Eamonn Callaghan Football Camp a great success at Naas GAA

This Football Skills Development Camp co-ordinated by Eamonn Callaghan, the renowned Naas and Kildare player, commenced on Monday 12 June and concluded on Friday June 16.

The glorious sunny conditions complemented a very successful week’s activities on the pitches in Naas GAA.

It proved as popular as last year with forty -two u 14 / u15 girls availing of this great opportunity to improve their skills. This initiative was supported and supervised by the Naas LGFA mentors of the u14 and u15 teams.

Eamonn Callaghan was ably assisted by three Naas players who represented Kildare at minor level; Elias Dihos, Liam O’Connor, Rob Murray and Cian Kilbride a player with Naas minors.

Two of the Naas Junior Ladies’ team, Amy Balfe, Clodagh Corry and u 17 Naas player Kitty Ryan also participated as coaching assistants.

This was an invaluable experience for all these young players and will contribute to their football development.
The Naas pitches were awash with colour as club and county jerseys were worn by all the players while they coaching emphasis was skills’ focus incorporating all the basic competencies; kicking style, hand pass and fielding the ball. All the sessions were very organised interspersed with a fun element.

Eamonn and his assistants, including Ronan Joyce who was a guest coach on one of the days, were very complimentary of the girls’ enthusiasm and interest in developing their skills.

On Friday, the final day of the camp, Eamonn, his assistants and all the players gathered in Naas GAA Clubhouse to enjoy hot food. Having expended a lot of energy during the week, this treat was well deserved and appreciated by all.

The players received their training tops which will be a reminder of the action- packed week of football co-ordinated by Eamonn Callaghan, sharing his immense experience and expertise. Grace Clifford captain of Kildare Senior Ladies Football team armed with the Leinster League and Championship trophies made a surprise visit and was warmly greeted by all the players, coaches and mentors. She outlined all the preparations and efforts of the Senior Kildare panel and team in their successful campaign in both league and Leinster Championship and their All Ireland series matches to date.

Lauren Burke, the Naas representative on the Kildare team and her team mate Aoife Rhattigan also conducted a question and answer session which provided the Naas girls with an ideal opportunity to meet their county senior players and have an insight into the training, effort and demands of a county player.

The Naas LGFA community members and all the mentors involved in the organisation of the football camp are very grateful to these players for their attendance during their busy schedule.

The event in the clubhouse concluded with the presentation of a training top by Naas LGFA Chairperson James Costello, signed by all the players who participated in the camp, to Eamonn Callaghan as a token of their appreciation and gratitude for a very enjoyable and worthwhile week of football skills and fun. It is very important as all these u 14 and u15 players aspire to improving and developing their football skills while still enjoying the sport.

A very useful initiative to enhance the football skills and encourage these players to continue to enjoy and develop their football as they continue their football journey, playing for the blue and white of their club Naas!